Inside The Red Sox

Red Sox Surging Prospect Makes Notable Step On Path To Big Leagues

Boston is hoping this young star lives up to the hype

Scott Neville

Oct 19, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A general view of Fenway Park during the National Anthem before game four of the 2021 ALCS between the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A general view of Fenway Park during the National Anthem before game four of the 2021 ALCS between the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports / Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
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Do the Boston Red Sox have a teenage phenom developing into a future core member of the roster?

Much of the attention surrounding the Red Sox's farm system is on the big three prospects: shortstop Marcelo Mayer, outfielder Roman Anthony and catcher Kyle Teel. The trio resides in Double-A Portland and all have lived up to the hype.

However, there is an even younger player making waves within the Red Sox organization that has been tabbed as the next blue-chip prospect for Boston. The rising star reportedly is making a major step in his development.

"Yoeilin Cespedes is indeed moving up to Single-A Salem after a month and a half of dominance in the FCL," The Boston Globe's Alex Speier reported Tuesday following speculation by SoxProspect's Chris Hatfield.

The 18-year-old is the Red Sox's No. 7 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and will be rated even higher in their next update.

Cespedes hit .294 with 16 extra-base hits including five home runs, 24 RBIs and a 1.015 OPS in just 25 games in the Florida Complex League -- the lowest level of stateside affiliated baseball. It was clear that the Dominican-born star was ready for another challenge after excelling immediately.

The middle infielder logged 10 games at shortstop -- his primary position throughout his young career -- and seven at second base with eight games in the designated hitter role.

Last season Cespedes hit .346 with 25 extra-base hits including six home runs, 38 RBIs and a .952 OPS in 46 games out of the Dominican League at just 17 years old.

Nearly all eventual top prospects tear up the FCL with ease so after checking off that first box, his real journey will begin shortly. Cespedes could lead the next wave of prospects following the big three's promotion and likely will be Boston's top man in the farm system in short order.

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Scott Neville
SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer.  His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu

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